Senior Director of Development

Job Duties

• Identification and Prospective Donors
• Collaborate with the Data Sciences team to identify, qualify, and prioritize potential major gift and principal gift donors.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of prospective donors through research, networking, and outreach.
• Collaborate with the AVP of Development and other senior leadership to create and execute strategies for donor identification.
• Cultivation and Solicitation
• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors to achieve giving goals.
• Develop and implement personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for a select group of high-net worth donors.
• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to create high-quality communication with major and principal donors through customized proposals, presentations, and engagement activities.
• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with prospects through personalized outreach, meetings, and events.
• Develop tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for each donor based on their interests and capacity to give.
• Lead or assist in the coordination of gift solicitation efforts, ensuring that appropriate steps are taken in the donor journey.
• Gift Solicitation and Closing
• Actively work towards meeting established annual metrics, collaborating with team members to ensure cohesive efforts.
• Develop and execute strategies to secure financial support in alignment with both personal, team, and WSUFAE’s fundraising goals.
• Lead the solicitation of major, principal gifts, and planned gifts with donors in your portfolio and close contributions that support WSU’s priorities.
• Team Development/Management
• Provide vision and leadership to the College of LAS and Honors College development team, ensuring alignment with WSUFAE and WSU priorities.
• Recruit, train, and mentor high-performing team members through the establishment and monitoring of goals, ensuring accountability and consistent progress towards fundraising targets.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, excellence, and innovation within your team and across WSUFAE.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required
• Fundraising experience closing Major Gifts ($25,000 or more)
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with high-net-worth individuals and institutional leaders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities and meet challenging and changing deadlines and to develop and execute sophisticated strategies for securing transformational gifts.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to inform decision-making.
• Must be willing to travel with occasional weekend and evening work
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and insurance
• Project professional image at all times
• Commitment to the WSUFAE core values of Integrity, Service, Excellence and Collaboration

Skills

• Hightly motivated and ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a focus on collaboration and professional development.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• High degree of professionalism, ethical sensitivity, and discretion; ability to maintain a commitment to confidentiality; good judgment and proven responsible decision-making skills.
• Ability to lead groups and projects as well as function as part of a collaborative team.
• Enthusiasm for WSUFAE’s mission and values, with a deep commitment to advancing its priorities through philanthropy.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent and sudden movements from sitting, standing, bending, reaching, and walking
• Frequent standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Frequent use of a telephone for prolonged periods
• Frequent exposure to large crowds, loud noises, and/or bright and/or flashing lights
• Occasional travel for conferences and donor or alumni engagement opportunities
• Frequent lifting up to 20 pounds
• Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds when traveling
• Occasional exposure to outdoors and hot and inclement weather

Preferred Requirements and Skills

• Graduate degree from accredited institution
• CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) is preferred
• Fundraising experience closing gifts of $250,000 or more
• Database knowledge
• Knowledge of Wichita State University and a commitment to higher education